Guwahati: Assuring customers that there is no need to panic in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, a senior SBI official on Wednesday said cash is being airlifted from Kolkata to the northeastern region.

The SBI logo. Reuters

"There is no need to panic. No need to worry. There is no shortage of Rs 100 notes. Cash is being airlifted from Kolkata from today itself for the northeastern states," SBI North East Circle chief general manager PVSLN Murty told reporters in Guwahati.

Cash requirement of northeastern states is met through supplies from Kolkata and is generally brought by road and
rail routes, he said.

"No need to rush to the banks tomorrow to exchange your Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. But if you still want, you can go and exchange the old currency notes and get up to Rs 4,000 per person.

"People have time till December 30 to deposit their cash in hand and there is no need to rush," Murthy said.

He also appealed to the public to use their debit and credit cards and other online payment facilities for the next few days.

To handle the extra rush of customers, all banks will open extra cash disbursement counters and will remain open for public transaction for additional two hours till 6 pm for some time, the SBI CGM said.

Banks will reopen on Thursday and the ATMs will be functional from the day after, Murty said.

"New Rs 2,000 notes will also be disbursed through those counters...," he said.

Regarding several places in the North East located in remote areas with no bank branches, Murty said SBI will make the best effort to reach them to ensure people face minimum problems.

Two helpline numbers — 0361-2237596/2237979 — have been activated by SBI for its customers in the region, Murty said.

SBI has 746 branches spread across the seven northeastern states and over 3,100 ATMs and 245 cash deposit machines, he said.